There are two kinds of Father’s Day gadgets: the ones Dad unwraps with a polite “Wow, that’s cool” before quietly putting them in a drawer, and the ones he starts using immediately and then wonders how he ever lived without it.
The latter is winning this year.
Forget gadgets that promise to change Dad’s life but require a degree in software engineering to set up. The smarter Father’s Day buys are the simple ones — tech that solves an annoying problem, saves a bit of time or makes weekends away that little bit easier.
Richard Beaini, General Manager Mobile and Computer Technology at Harvey Norman, says there is a clear shift towards technology that offers practical value beyond Father’s Day.
“Customers are still looking for gifts that feel thoughtful, but in the current environment they want something Dad will genuinely use, not something that sits in a drawer after Father’s Day,” Beaini says.
A powerful Bluetooth speaker, for example, can earn its keep everywhere from the backyard to the beach, while a solar power bank can provide a handy backup when Dad is camping, travelling or simply away from a power point for too long.
That focus on everyday usefulness is also being reflected in what shoppers are looking for. According to Mr Beaini, there is strong interest in “useful upgrades like wireless chargers, USB-C charging accessories, smart home products, security cameras, trackers, headphones and compact productivity tools”.
There are plenty of small upgrades for around the house, too. Magnetic wireless chargers can help keep phones topped up without adding another tangle of cables to the bedside table, while digital photo frames offer an easy way to keep family snaps on display without printing, framing and swapping them out.
For the more practical-minded dad, smart leak detectors could be one of the least exciting — and most useful — gifts going. Designed to alert homeowners to potential water leaks early, they are the sort of gadget nobody thinks they need until it prevents a much bigger headache.
That’s the appeal of this new wave of utility tech. It doesn’t necessarily look impressive sitting in the box. Its value comes later, when Dad reaches for it every weekend, shows it off to his mates or realises it has quietly solved one of those annoying little problems that keeps cropping up.
“The novelty gift has not disappeared completely,” Mr Beaini says.
“But the stronger trend is toward reliable, value-driven products that make Dad’s day easier, faster or more enjoyable.”
Small business owner and busy father-of-two Mike Cloke has a simple test for any new gadget: does it actually make life easier?
“When you’ve got two young girls, the weekend is rarely quiet. If a gadget can make getting out the door, keeping everyone charged or spending time together a little easier, that’s a winner in my book,” he says.
“I think dads are pretty easy to buy for once you stop trying to impress them. Find something they actually have a use for and they’ll probably get more enjoyment out of it than the latest bit of tech they don’t really need.”